Ninja Coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain derails, several injured

VALENCIA>> Four people suffered minor injuries after a tree branch fell on the track of the Ninja roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain on Monday afternoon, Los Angeles County Fire officials said.

Fire officials received a call from the park at 5:55 p.m. that an accident had occurred on Ninja, said Ed Pittman, county fire supervisor. Ninja is described as a suspended swinging roller coaster in which riders whip around the track at 55 mph. There are four coasters of its kind in the nation, according to Magic Mountain.

Riders appeared to be stuck on the coaster at the corkscrew portion of the track for more than an hour after fire officials received a call about the accident. It’s unclear why or how the branch landed on the track, Pittman said.

“Our plan is to get those folks down,” he said.

Magic Mountain spokeswoman Sue Carpenter said park medical staff and local paramedics were immediately called to the scene.

“The 25 guests on the train were all alert and corresponding with park personnel during the evacuation process,” she said in a statement.

“The safety of our guests and employees is our number one priority and as a precaution, the ride will remain closed until a thorough inspection of the area is complete.”